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A very large contiguous landmass, often delimited by [[plate tectonics|tectonic]] boundaries, which assist in distinguishing a small '''continent''' (such as Australia) from a large [[island]], such as [[Greenland]]. Continental masses often extend a number of miles out into the ocean, only shallowly submerged; this region is known as the [[continental shelf]].

A very large contiguous landmass, often delimited by [[plate tectonics|tectonic]] boundaries, which assist in distinguishing a small '''continent''' (such as Australia) from a large [[island]], such as [[Greenland]]. Continental masses often extend a number of miles out into the ocean, only shallowly submerged; this region is known as the [[continental shelf]].

The continents of Earth are [[Eurasia]] (often divided into [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]), [[Africa]] (occasionally included as a part of the Eurasian supercontinent which is then referred to as [[Eurafrasia]], [[America]] (often divided into [[North America]] and [[South America]]), [[Antarctica]] and [[Australia]].

The continents of Earth are [[Eurasia]] (often divided into [[Europe]] and [[Asia]], which exist on separate sides of the Ural Mountains), [[Africa]] (occasionally included as a part of the Eurasian supercontinent which is then referred to as [[Eurafrasia]], [[America]] (often divided into [[North America]] and [[South America]]), [[Antarctica]] and [[Australia]].

Historically (hundreds of millions of years ago),  a number of other continents and supercontinents have existed, such as [[Pangaea]], [[Laurasia]] and [[Gondwanaland]]; these have been broken up and reassembled into the currently existing configuation, by the process of [[continental drift]].

Historically (hundreds of millions of years ago),  a number of other continents and supercontinents have existed, such as [[Pangaea]], [[Laurasia]] and [[Gondwanaland]]; these have been broken up and reassembled into the currently existing configuation, by the process of [[continental drift]].